Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) lies on the turf after tackling Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) lies on the turf after tackling Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Glendale,

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) stands on the sidelines after being injured against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) stands on the sidelines after being injured against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Glendale,

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) stands on the sidelines after being injured against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) stands on the sidelines after being injured against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Glendale,

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) stands on the sidelines after being injured against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) stands on the sidelines after being injured against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Glendale,

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) tackles Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. Sherman walked to the bench after being injured on the play. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) tackles Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) walks the bench after an injury during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) walks the bench after an injury during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) takes the field prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) takes the field prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Photo: Rick Scuteri/AP

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Richard Sherman has ruptured Achilles, out for the year

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Richard Sherman took his own advice for as long as he could.

After speaking to the media for several minutes after suffering a ruptured Achilles in Seattle's 22-16 win against the Cardinals on Thursday night, the defensive back finally broke down as reality set in.

He tried. Sherman talked about the important of being out there competing with his teammates, no matter the cost, despite an Achilles injury that has been nagging him since Seattle's win at the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 8.

"We tried to treat it, rest it, do everything we could," Sherman said. "It's one of those things that won't heal."

After a promising rookie season, Sherman burst onto the national scene midway through his second campaign in 2012 when he confronted Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after the two spent much of a 24-23 Seahawks win jawing at each other. Sherman then tweeted a photograph of their postgame confrontation, captioned, "U MAD BRO?" Sherman would go on to pick off eight passes and earn first-team All-Pro honors that season.

Following a Seahawks playoff victory in Washington, D.C. in January 2013, Sherman was confronted by Redskins tackle Trent Williams, who punched Sherman in the face (really, it was kind of a slap) after Sherman apparently challenged him to do just that. Williams apologized after the game, but Sherman cemented his reputation as an agitator.

Sherman is the self-appointed best corner in the game, but several other contenders have challenged that assertion throughout the years. That's led to Twitter wars with Darrelle Revis (above), Patrick Peterson and DeAngelo Hall (yes, DeAngelo Hall) among others. The most common critique from his peers? The fact that, for much of his career, Sherman stayed on the left side of the field rather than trail an opponent's top receiver.

In a 2013 appearance on ESPN's "First Take," Sherman got into it with co-host Skip Bayless, a harsh critic of Sherman. After listing his accomplishments to noted contrarian Bayless, Sherman (pictured here with skier Lindsey Vonn at the 2015 ESPY Awards, because who wants a picture of Skip Bayless) unleashed this bomb: "In my 24 years of life, I'm better at life than you."

At the end of his third NFL season, Sherman came up with what will likely be the most iconic play of his career, tipping a last-second Colin Kaepernick pass to teammate Malcolm Smith for a game-clinching interception in the NFC title game versus the San Francisco 49ers. What's remembered just as much as the play, however, is Sherman's postgame tirade to Fox's Erin Andrews, when he called Niners wideout Michael Crabtree "sorry" and declared himself the best corner in the game. Again.

Sherman and Doug Baldwin have been close friends since their college days, when they both played wide receiver at Stanford. Their brotherly bond has resulted in several memorable moments on and off the field, including the two teaming up for a skit lampooning the NFL's media policies in 2014 and an on-field training camp fight this summer. Hey, brothers have to fight sometimes, right?

It is perhaps unsurprising that Sherman has been one of the team's most vocal leaders when it comes to weighing in on social issues, whether it be the Black Lives Matter movement or opinions on then-presidential nominee Donald Trump. Sherman called out Trump for his "locker room talk" excuse for sexually predatory comments. Sherman also wrote that Trump was the "opposite of an example" in an essay for The Players Tribune following Trump's election.

Sherman, seen here dressed up as Harry Potter for Halloween, is one of Seattle's representatives to the NFL Players Association and has used his platform to criticize the league and commissioner Roger Goodell. His critiques range from the design and implementation of the on-field rules -- penalties have been a recurring issue for Sherman throughout his career -- to player discipline, among myriad other quibbles.

Things took a bit of a dark turn this year during Seattle's Oct. 16 win over Atlanta when a passionate Sherman, upset at communication breakdowns that led to 21 straight Falcons points in the Seahawks' 26-24 victory, went after his defensive coaches and teammates on the sideline. Sherman was eventually calmed down by his teammates, but not before he'd caused a major scene.

Sherman's latest critique of the NFL came ahead of last week's Thursday night game versus the Los Angeles Rams. Sherman was among several players pointing out the double standard surrounding the league's supposed concern for player safety while also scheduling a midweek game just four days after Seattle played at Green Bay. Sherman's off-the-cuff label for Thursday night matchups, "an absolute poopfest," went viral.

In the third quarter of last week's win over Los Angeles, Sherman went off on Seahawks coaches again, but this time it was offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell in his crosshairs after Bevell called for a pass on a first-and-goal play from the 1-yard line. That pass was nearly intercepted, but Seattle scored two plays later. After the game, Sherman invoked the memory of Bevell's infamous Super Bowl XLIX pass call that cost Seattle the game.

Pete Carroll hinted Sherman was contrite when discussing the latest sideline scene in a private meeting after last week's game, but a defiant Sherman told reporters he didn't apologize to his coaches or teammates in a press conference on Tuesday. After becoming annoyed with a line of questioning by 710 ESPN Seattle and seattlepi.com's Jim Moore, Sherman threatened to ruin Moore's career by taking away his press credentials.

Sherman left the game during the third quarter, making a tackle on John Brown, who had just caught an 18-yard pass from Drew Stanton. After bringing Brown to the ground, Sherman immediately rolled over grabbing his right heel and remained down while being looked at by trainers.

He eventually stood up, hobbled to the sideline, where he mouthed to teammates on the sidelines, "tore my Achilles." Sherman remained on the sideline for the rest of the game, sharing hugs with players and coaches until the final whistle.

Yeah, emotions finally caught up to Sherman at end of press conference. Started to break down, then tears came on final question pic.twitter.com/lGgTczytPO

Knowing the injury had bothered him most of the year, Sherman was cautious. He made sure not to make any hard cuts or breaks on passes unless he was certain a turnover or big play could be made. On the play against Brown, he anticipated making a break on the ball an intercepting it, then heard his heel pop.

"I thought I could get the ball and once it popped...it's just unfortunate I couldn't make the tackle," he said.

Confirming that Sherman's injury is season-ending, coach Pete Carroll said: "Yes. There's no coming back until you get surgery."

Sherman wasn't sure when he would undergo surgery. He anticipated giving his heel time to heal for a few days, then having a procedure performed.

The seventh-year player out of Stanford hasn't missed a regular season or postseason game since he was drafted by Seattle in the fifth round in 2011. It's a streak he was incredibly proud of, and fought to keep in tact, battling through multiple injuries throughout his career.

"It's unfortunate. It sucks," he said. "If it was anything I could play with I'd be out there."

Asked Thursday why, if he knew his Achilles would eventually rupture, he didn't simply sit out and rest it for a couple of games, Sherman said, "Every game matters in this league."

Seattle (6-3) will have to play the rest of its games without Sherman, one of the best defensive players in the league. In his place Jeremy Lane will start at left cornerback and Shaquill Griffin will continue to start at right corner.